Hardee's, home of the Monster Thickburger, introduces lower-calorie turkey burger

The BBQ Ranch Turkey Burger is one of three turkey options Hardee's offers.

Where's the beef?

(Oops, wrong burger chain.)

Hardee's, the fast-food franchise famous for its two-thirds-pound, 1,320-calorie, 100 percent Black Angus beef Monster Thickburger -- you know, the one topped with four strips of bacon, three slices of American cheese and a glob of mayonnaise -- is now serving a diet-friendly turkey burger?

Has the whole world gone to the birds?

No, apparently, just Hardee's and its sister brand Carl's Jr., who say they are the first national fast-food franchises to offer a turkey alternative on their burger menus.

Their new line of charbroiled turkey burgers were created in collaboration with the editors of Men's Health magazine and the co-author of the "Eat This, Not That!" book series.

"We totally buy into the 'Eat This, Not That!' philosophy of making better-for-you food choices that are also still delicious and indulgent because, human nature being what it is, those are the kind of foods people will be more likely to continue to eat time and again," says Brad Haley of Hardee's parent company CKE Restaurants Inc.

"We could have opted to promote carrot sticks and apple slices like some of our competitors, but people just don't buy them," he adds.

Each turkey burger weighs in at under 500 calories and comes with a quarter-pound patty on a toasted wheat bun.

Options include a basic turkey burger with toppings, as well as mushroom-Swiss and barbecue-ranch burgers.

Hardee's has 10 locations in the Birmingham area. For those locations and addresses, go here.